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AP National News

Philippine forces sail to hotly disputed shoal without incident for first time since deal with China

Associated Press MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine government personnel transported food and other supplies Saturday to a fiercely disputed shoal occupied by a Filipino navy contingent but closely guarded by Beijing’s forces in the South China Sea and no confrontations were reported, Philippine officials said. It was the first Philippine government supply trip to the

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Robert Downey Jr. is returning to ‘Avengers’ films as a villain in 1 of Marvel’s Comic-Con twists

Associated Press SAN DIEGO (AP) — Marvel Studios returned to San Diego Comic-Con with dancing Deadpool variants and a choir for a panel that included news about the next two “Avengers” films and surprise guests, including Harrison Ford and Robert Downey Jr. Downey is returning to Marvel’s films, but not as Iron Man. He’ll play

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California date palm ranches reap not only fruit, but a permit to host weddings and quinceañeras

Associated Press COACHELLA, Calif. (AP) — Small date palm ranch owners in Southern California’s Coachella Valley have been petitioning for permission to host special events ranging from quinceañeras to weddings on their properties. The move aims to authorize a long-standing tradition in the region’s predominantly Latino community of holding outdoor events on largely agricultural properties.

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‘Twisters’ tears through Oklahoma on the big screen. Moviegoers in the state are buying up tickets

Associated Press MOORE, Okla. (AP) — The blockbuster opening of “Twisters” has whipped up moviegoers in Oklahoma who are embracing the summer hit, even in towns scarred by deadly real-life tornadoes. In its opening weekend, the action-packed film generated $80.5 million from more than 4,150 theaters in North America. The film far exceeded expectations in

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A look at ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, the kingpin of Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel who is now in US custody

Associated Press PHOENIX (AP) — Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, the top leader and co-founder of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, eluded the reach of U.S. law enforcement for decades as the criminal organization evolved into the world’s biggest manufacturer and smuggler of illicit fentanyl pills and other drugs to the United States. Zambada, 76, once ran the

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Southeast Asia top diplomats condemn Myanmar violence, urge peaceful means to settle sea disputes

Associated Press VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) — Southeast Asian top diplomats on Saturday condemned violence in Myanmar’s ongoing civil war and urged for “practical” means to defuse rising tensions in the South China Sea during the last of the three-day regional talks with allies including the U.S., Russia and China. Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith of Laos,

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Key Pakistani Islamist party begins sit-in to protest increase in electricity bills

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani officials say hundreds of supporters of a key Islamist party have started a sit-in protest in the garrison city of Rawalpindi after authorities detained several people to stop them from holding a rally in the neighboring capital, citing security reasons. The Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan party originally issued a call for holding the

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Judge strikes down a North Carolina abortion restriction but upholds another

Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A federal judge has ruled a provision in North Carolina’s abortion laws requiring doctors to document the location of a pregnancy before prescribing abortion pills should be blocked permanently. But U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles restored on Friday another provision she halted last year that required abortions after 12

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